Clara got annoyed and glared at her, but immediately straightened her face, knowing where she was and didn't want to leave a bad impression on the manager.
"Assistant manager Han, you were here too? Sorry, I didn't see you." She said, faking a smile but then turned to Elias. "I've come to submit my report on the progress of Gangnam's business development." She announced as she began to stride in, her heels clicking on the floor with light taps.
She carried herself lightly and elegantly, just like Isabelle did.
But unlike Isabelle who never let her emotion slip out of the mask of perfection she wore to work, Clara was quite the emotional woman.
"Team Leader Clara," Isabelle greeted politely, her voice calm and professional. "What brings you here during office hours? I thought your team was handling the Gangnam project report."
Clara laughed lightly, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"Exactly why I'm here," she said, flashing a charming smile at Elias. "I've come to submit my report on the progress of Gangnam's business development."
She walked forward with elegance, placing the file neatly on Elias's desk. Her eyes, however, lingered far longer on him than necessary.
Elias remained as composed as ever as he simply nodded and reached for the document.
"I see. Thank you, Team Leader Clara."
His tone was professional, indifferent — not a hint of warmth or interest. But that didn't stop Clara from watching him closely, her expression softening into something that almost looked dreamy.
Isabelle cleared her throat. "The report should've been submitted digitally through the shared server," she said pointedly.
Clara blinked, feigning innocence. "Oh? I thought it'd be more… respectful to hand it over in person. After all, it's not every day we get a new manager."
Her gaze flicked to Elias again, deliberate and heavy, somewhat mocking in between. Isabelle caught it and exhaled quietly, already used to this pattern.
Elias looked up, his glasses catching the light.
"Understood," he simply said, flipping open the first page. "I'll review it and send feedback before the end of the day."
Clara hesitated. She'd expected something more like a spark, a reaction, anything. Instead, his calm detachment felt like a wall she couldn't climb.
Still, she smiled, more determined than ever.
"Of course, Manager Yoon. Please take your time. If you need clarifications… I'll be more than happy to assist." Her sugary tone and the flicker in her eyes insisted on more than just 'assisting' him.
But just like a wall, her attempts bounced right off.
"Noted," he said without looking up.
Isabelle resisted the urge to smirk. She could already imagine how the office outside was buzzing — Clara must've felt she would be successful on her first attempt to please her new boss.
So she must've also boasted a lot about making her move, but now, Elias was barely acknowledging it.
Serves her right. How dare she try to cause a stir in the office when they should be working twice as hard as they did in the previous month to increase their performance output?
Plus, she had been away for over a month on the project in Gangnam, so she should be using this opportunity to pick up the things she couldn't pick up, but nope, she decided to flirt.
The office isn't a place for courtship, Isabelle thought. She should be aware of that by now.
We'll judging from the little crinkle on her brow, the message has been passed down clearly.
"Anything else, Team Leader Clara?" Isabelle asked smoothly.
Clara's jaw tightened for half a second before her lips spread in a smile. She pretended not to be affected by this rejection and slightly lowered her head. "That'll be all," she said sweetly and then turned around. "Have a nice day, both of you."
As the door clicked shut behind her, Elias finally looked at Isabelle.
"Why does it seem like you expected that?" he asked, flatly.
"She's quite predictable," Isabelle replied. "Ambitious, loud, and convinced that charm solves everything. She's never had it hard, that girl. And I hope she doesn't."
Even if Clara was quite the stubborn thorn in her flesh, Isabelle did not wish ill of her.
Instead, she just wished she would mature a bit and stop with her childish antics.
Clara is known to have been brought up overseas with loving parents, and two successful elder siblings who adore her, so she's never had anything to worry about.
If not for the fact that she met someone like Isabelle and had become competitive, she would've only done the bare minimum, as long as it showed she worked.
She'd have been lazy and used her charm to get work done as well.
But she had talent. Isabelle was at least glad that that talent was able to blossom due to her existence.
Being sheltered, Stella had no major worries in life.
Unlike Isabelle...
But how was it that someone who basically had everything was unlucky when it came to love?
Well, that wasn't Isabelle's concern so there was no need to think about that. She must have her reasons why she is still single.
Maybe waiting for a brilliant and handsome chaebol that will sweep her off her feet.
Even if not a chaebol, someone handsome and successful and... Her eyes instinctively darted towards Elias.
Elias's lips curved slightly, feeling her gaze on him — not quite a smile, but close. But he could not shift the topic to him, so he continued,
"You seem to know her well."
"I've had to," Isabelle said, straightening a stack of papers on his desk. "She's been trying to take my position for two years."
He hummed softly.
"Then I assume she'll try again — in a different form."
"Undoubtedly," Isabelle replied. Her tone was calm, but there was a faint glint in her eyes. "But I'll handle it."
"You don't seem bothered about it." He said resting his chin on his knuckle. In fact, she doesn't seem to hate that someone is trying to overtake her.
Isabelle paused for only half a second but then continued stacking up the papers.
"It's because competition brings out the best in us." She added and Elias gave a single nod, the faintest trace of approval flickering in his gaze before returning to the report.
Outside the glass walls, Clara was chatting with her team, laughing a little too brightly despite the rejection just now.
She was probably trying to gloss over it and make it seem like things were under her control.
Isabelle caught her reflection in the glass and smirked faintly before turning back to business.
For now, the day was just beginning.